She Cracks Me Up

This sort of looks like a “Peek In My Cart” post, doesn’t it? But this post isn’t about some crazy great deal I found at the store.

Nope, this cart full of Smart Water is a purchase to make up for a really dumb decision.

Do you remember that treadmill desk I purchased a couple of months ago? The one I said I could walk on all day long and not feel like I really did a workout? Well, let me tell you, I worked myself out. All the way to the emergency room.

You see, once I started using my treadmill desk, I kind of didn’t stop. From morning until the kids came home from school, that’s where I was. On the treadmill. Walking and working the day away. And let me tell you, I felt great. I was walking at a really slow pace continuously for hours while pounding out a ton of work.

I felt like Wonder Woman.

Or at least I did until a month ago when I woke up and couldn’t walk. No exaggeration. I could not get out of bed and walk. Every muscle from my lower back to the bottom of my right foot felt like it was locked into place. Completely seized.

Every time I tried to take a step it felt like daggers were being dragged up and down my legs. So off to the emergency room I went. I had no idea what was wrong. Maybe something coming back to haunt me from the car accident? That was my only logical guess.

But as it turned out, the culprit was walking too many miles on the treadmill. I guess going from 25 miles one week to 50 miles the next really made my body angry. That and dehydration. Who knew that two cups of coffee, a glass of water and two glasses of wine a day didn’t count as enough fluid intake. Sure felt like enough to me.

It’s funny how your body can have a different opinion than your mind. Because my body said enough of that crap lady, I quit.

It took two weeks of some serious drugs to calm my body down. That and a ton of water. Did you know that drinking water helps keep your muscles from going into spasm? Apparently wine does not offer that same benefit. Hence, the cart full of Smart Water per the doctor’s orders.

Once we got the pain under control and the muscles somewhat cooperating again, the doctor suggested I see the hospital affiliated chiropractor.

And at that suggestion, I was indignant. A chiropractor? That’s not even a real doctor, is it? Isn’t that dangerous? All I knew about chiropractors was that they were questionable. So many of my friends had conflicting opinions on whether or not chiropractors were effective or not. Some said they were miracle workers while others said they were quacks. Who was I to believe?

Well, let me tell you, when you are in enough back pain and the pain meds aren’t entirely cutting it, you’ll try anything once. Off to the chiropractor I went with much trepidation.

I was so nervous over that first visit. Surely she was going to crack my spine in half. Isn’t that what chiropractors do? And wouldn’t that hurt like hell? And when my chiropractor walked into the room to greet me, I really had my doubts. Here she was, this tiny little thing and she was going to crack my back? Good luck with that, I thought.

But as it turned out, there was no cracking involved whatsoever that first visit. Matter of fact, there would be no cracking (really, “adjusting”) until my eighth visit. Instead she manipulated my joints and muscles using her fingers. Pressing on nerves I didn’t know existed until she found them.

And boy did I see stars when she found what she was looking for. It’s amazing how pressing on one nerve can make you feel that same nerve travel the entire length of your leg right down to your toes. It was quite the education in human anatomy. Not entirely a comfortable lesson, I might add.

Those first visits were spent trying to get my muscles to play nice with the nerves and joints again. It took several visits, but by God that woman had me walking again without me wanting to cry. Sure, I still had some muscle/nerve issues that needed to be worked out because apparently I screwed up every muscle from my bum down to my ankle, but after every visit with the chiropractor I got better and better.

And as I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t until the eighth visit that she “cracked” me. I’m not sure why I was so afraid of that whole idea. I mean, I crack my own back regularly without even trying. But when the chiropractor did it, she did it in such a gentle way that it felt natural.

She started with my neck and worked her way down my spine and by the time she was done I felt almost normal again. Sure, it didn’t sound awesome hearing my body snap, crackle and pop, but I definitely felt more aligned. Or at least in better working order.

I’ve been seeing the chiropractor three times a week for a month now and I have to tell you, I’m not sure I’d be walking as well as I am if it wasn’t for that woman. We still have a ways to go because I really did a number on my body, but visit by visit and week by week she is making my muscles, nerves and joints work again. And for that I am entirely grateful.

I am obviously not a doctor. And I’m not here to give you medical advice. But I did want to share my experience with you because I’m sure I’m not the only one who has doubts about chiropractors. And for my situation, it’s really helping.

So, I’m curious to hear if you’ve had any experiences with chiropractors? Was it helpful for you like it has been for me? Do you go on a regular basis or just when you feel like your body isn’t cooperating? Does your chiropractor do adjustments or does he/she use joint/muscle manipulation? I’d love to hear your experiences!

Comments

I am married to a chiropractor. I am so glad that you have had a wonderful experience. My husband does adjustments as well as manipulation. He also specializes is sports medicine and nutrition. He rehabs many injuries. We have a gym attached to our office just for the purposes of teaching patients the right way to complete exercises so that they prevent damage to their bodies. It is amazing to watch people be able to move without pain after suffering for so long. My daughter was adjusted one hour after birth and was able to calm immediately after. Her spine and hips were back in place where they should be. In fact, she and her twin sister have never had to have any antibiotics at all. With adjustments and nutrition they have been able to ward off most illnesses, and over the counter medications have taken care of the rest.

I have been to a chiropractor for specific issues (I could never afford to go on a regular basis.) I can say from first hand experience that finding the “right” one makes a huge difference. I had an unexplained, severe pain in my hip that no doctor had an explanation or remedy for. To limit the pain I had to walk keeping my leg straight and had to lift my leg with my arms to get in a car. I went to the chiropractor that basically saved my father’s life (that is a whole other long story), he manipulated muscles/tendons basically in my butt, and I walked out of his office sore but just about pain free. I definitely can relate to you when he/she finds that one nerve causing havoc. What he could feel was not going to show up on an x-ray or in blood work.

I’ve only had one experience with a chiro. And was not good. She actually hurt me with manipulation. I was there for neck pain. I even cried a couple times. She would have to ice me after treatment. So I stopped going. I later found out from my family dr. that there are two types of manipulation. High velocity and low velocity. Clearly she was of the former variety. I had much better luck with physical therapy as is is much more passive. My neck pain is my own fault and I have no one to blame but myself. I dove into a pool and hit my head on the bottom. As an adult no less. Talk about dumb..

Good morning Melanie! Hmmm, here I sit sipping my first of many cups of coffee that I’ll consume today. I drink a glass of water every morning with my daily medication but probably don’t drink enough during the course of the day. I’ve never used a chiropractor but I have gone to a physical therapist for rehabilitative therapy on a shoulder injury and stretching followed by hot/cold therapy on bursitis in my hip. Thankfully I have never had anything more serious. I’m glad you are feeling better and that the chiropractor is working for you! Get completely healthy soon!

Ouch!! Sounds painful. Glad that you are getting sorted and getting back on track now though. I guess that at least with your new job you won’t be walking and working, so you can give your poor body a rest!! Take care of yourself. Can I ask a favour, can you e-mail me as I have something that I wanted to ask – not on here? Thanks Amy xx

Good Golly! I knew dehydration could wreak havoc on the body, but had no idea how much! Wowsers! Glad you are on the mend and have learned your lesson…scary stuff. I have always leaned a bit toward the quack side of chiropractors, but just been scared, I think. I will chalk your experience up to the legit side in my mind. Stay well!

I’ve gone to a chiropractor since I was a kid! The one I used to go to cracked!, so I am used to it. Not necessarily good for your body though. The one I go to now is more of a manipulation type, but I do crack sometimes – it is just not forced.
I always tell people – it doesn’t hurt (even the rough ones who crack/force you “in” LOL), I’ve never been in pain. Just a little scary hearing yourself crack, I guess.

I wish I could go regularly, but I only go when I am in need (in pain) from running or such… I have to pay out of pocket, but I’d go more if I didn’t.

My daughter saw a chiropractor after she was diagnosed with torticollis and plagiocephaly at two months ago. Before the chiropractor she could only lay with head head facing to the left. After a couple sessions she was finally sleeping face up. We did have several months of PT and she wore a helmet for few months to straighten out the damage from the torticollis, but the chiro was instrumental in getting us started on the right path.

I absolutely LOVE my chiropractor. Several years ago – maybe 7 years now – my family doctor referred me to a chiro because of my acute lower back pain. It was horrible and he wasn’t sure what was going on. The chiro took xrays and diagnosed arthritis and if you could see what my L4 and L5 look like, you would agree! Yipes! She actually asked if I’d ever fallen off of a horse and said my back looked like it belong to someone who was 86, not 36. Yipes. Seeing her definitely helped and then I lost my job, so I did not go for about a year. I could definitely see the difference and started seeing a new chiro in the city where I now live (once I was gainfully employed again) and he has a different style (the first was more about the “cracking” and this one is more about spinal manipulation). It also helped dramatically when I was about to afford a new mattress 2 years ago.

When I started with the new chiro he also did xrays and the back kind of freaked him out I think. My neck was/is also out of whack. I’ve gone from needing 3 appointments a week to just going every other week, but if I miss a week I can definitely tell. I definitely notice if I have missed an appointment (or more than 1) with my chiro because I end up with neck pain and headache pain.

There is also a Chinese medicine doctor that works out of my chiro’s office (the practice also has a nutritionist and massage therapists) and I have been seeing her for acupuncture for a year now. That helps with pain as well. It’s been a fascinating learning process.

Yes I also had been going to a chiropractor for the last 2 years and stopped in the fall after he left to move out of state. I had come with back pain and difficulty walking. He really cured me and I continued with his weekly adjustments. But now since I haven’t gone since December my back pain is coming back. He also would teach about nutrition and importance taking care of my body. The new Doctor was nothing like him so that’s why I left and regret it. People think Chiropractors aren’t any good and I always defend that thinking if you get a good one.

I’ve seen chiro since I was 20/21 and waitressed in college. the first one was a stronger/cracker type. my current one(over 10 years now) is a combo of both, depends on what needs to be fixed. I go monthly and even went through all three of my prgs. He’s currently working with my 19 mth old to help a line his sinuses and neck and help his ears drain(we discovered he has excessive fluid causing hearing issues, but never an infection) And my little guy loves having his head and necked rubbed… it’s all muscle rubbing. my middle child had some work as a toddler too. his was more to help his legs a line right when walking, he had a small bow to one of his legs.

I love it, but do feel it may not be for everyone. especially if you don’t find the right fix. I’m perfectly fine with saying stop or that hurts if I don’t like something.

When I was in Grad school I suffered a severe shoulder injury. I did not have insurance so I could not see a doctor. The pain was unbearable. I saw an ad for a free session with a chir. in the newspaper. Well, I met Dr. Marantha Lambert. She was wonderful to me. She charged me only $25.00 a session when I could afford it, the rest of the time she saw me for free. DR. M . eased my arm pain and I eventually was able to have full range of motion in my left arm. Dr. M was not only my doctor but my friend. Unfortunately she has moved from my area, but we stay in touch.